Date: Monday, May 13, 2024
Time: 10:30-10:36 A.M.
1. Minister’s Schedule
On May 13, Unification Minister Kim Yung Ho sat down for a meeting
with Slovakia’s Foreign Minister Juraj Blanár at 10 A.M.
At 11:30 A.M., Minister Kim will hold a luncheon meeting with former
Unification Ministers.
At 6 P.M., Minister Kim will hold the 6th Evening of Unification.
On May 14, at 10 A.M., Minister Kim will attend the cabinet meeting.
At 2 P.M., Minister Kim will deliver congratulatory remarks at a
discussion hosted by the Korea Institute for National Unification.
On May 16, at 10:30 A.M., Minister Kim will deliver congratulatory
remarks at the 43rd anniversary event of the Central Association for
National Unification of Korea.
At 4:30 P.M., Minister Kim will deliver congratulatory remarks at
the unveiling ceremony of the Garden of the Three Forget-me-not Blossoms.
At 6 P.M., Minister Kim will hold the 7th Evening of Unification.
2. Q&A
Q. Minister of Foreign Affairs Cho Tae-yul will be holding talks
with his Chinese counterpart Wang Yi during his Beijing visit. With
the Minister noting that he will discuss the issue of China’s forced
repatriation of North Korean defectors, I would like to ask if the
Foreign Affairs Ministry requested information from the Unification
Ministry or discussed the issue in advance.
A. There is nothing to disclose regarding consultations between
ministries for diplomatic dialogue purposes.
Q. North Korea test fired controllable shells for the 240mm multiple
rocket launcher system on Friday, while leader Kim Jong Un personally
mounted a launcher for a trial operation and tested a sniper rifle
over the weekend. As such, the North seems to be demonstrating its
development of a series of conventional weapons. What is the
Unification Ministry’s interpretation of the North’s intentions?
A. The Government, together with related agencies, is closely
monitoring North Korea’s production of weapons. The Unification
Ministry, however, will not make a separate assessment. Regarding the
question about North Korea’s intentions, the Government will closely
watch related developments together with the international community
without making assumptions.
Q. A civic group for North Korean human rights aĺerted the press
that it has sent leaflets to the North today. What is the Unification
Ministry’s position on this matter?
A. There is nothing to confirm regarding press reports. The Ministry
is approaching issues concerning the flying of leaflets and other
items to the North in accordance with the Constitutional Court’s
ruling to guarantee freedom of expressiσn.
Q. I have a follow-up question. With the North mentioning a
“maritime border recognized by us” on the West Sea, the possibility of
provocation exists. This raises the issue of ensuring the personal
safety of our nationals. What is the Ministry’s take on this?
A. If necessary, considering on-site conditions, appropriate
measures can be taken in accordance with relevant laws and regulations.
Q. Some analyze that the North’s recent series of actions such as
the test firing of a new multiple rocket launch system is for arms
sales purposes, while others also note that it is a weapon targeting
the South. How does the Ministry evaluate the situation from this perspective?
A. The new multiple rocket launch system does target the Republic of
Korea. However, the Ministry will not make assumptions on the North’s
intentions. Instead, I would like to note that arms trade with North
Korea is a clear violation of UN Security Council (UNSC) resolutions,
and is an illegal act that undermines international norms.
Q. Various exchanges between North Korea and Russia are underway,
with a North Korean delegation from Naseon visiting Russia recently.
How does the Ministry analyze such developments?
A. The Ministry is closely monitoring the cooperative relationship
between North Korea and Russia. Russia’s responsibility and role as a
permanent member of the UNSC weighs heavy. I would like to reiterate
that exchanges and cooperation between Russia and North Korea should
be pursued in a way that is conducive to peace and stability on the
Korean Peninsula, while complying with UNSC resolutions.
Q. Around this time last year, a number of North Koreans defected by
sea. Can the Ministry confirm if any North Korean defected via this
route this year?
A. Confirming the entry route of North Korean defectors in detail is
not possible as it is directly concerned with the personal safety of defectors.
